Crosstalk between the Gut and Brain in Ischemic Stroke: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Options

Abstract

There has been a significant amount of interest in the past two decades in the study of the evolution of the gut microbiota, its internal and external impacts on the gut, and risk factors for cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral ischemic stroke. The network of bidirectional communication between gut microorganisms and their host is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). There is mounting evidence that maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis can frequently enhance the effectiveness of ischemic stroke treatment by modulating immune, metabolic, and inflammatory responses through MGBA. To effectively monitor and cure ischemic stroke, restoring a healthy microbial ecology in the gut may be a critical therapeutic focus. This review highlights mechanistic insights on the MGBA in disease pathophysiology. This review summarizes the role of MGBA signaling in the development of stroke risk factors such as aging, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, as well as changes in the microbiota in experimental or clinical populations. In addition, this review also examines dietary changes, the administration of probiotics and prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as treatment options for ischemic stroke as potential health benefits. It will become more apparent how the MGBA affects human health and disease with continuing advancements in this emerging field of biomedical sciences.

Ischemic stroke pathophysiology: A bibliometric and visualization analysis from 1990 to 2022

“…5 , the research clusters out of date mainly referred to #0 Neurosciences, #1 Peripheral Vascular Disease, and #6 Multidisciplinary Sciences. Popular research clusters until 2022 were #2 Pharmacology & Pharmacy, #3 Medicine, General &Internal, #5 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and #7 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging, which are the hotspots in the exploration of ischemic stroke pathophysiology [ [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] ]. In general, the top 25 keywords, as well as their eight clusters, reflect a transition trend in ischemic stroke pathophysiology from the central system like cluster #0 Neurosciences to focusing on a holistic system like cluster #3 medicine, general & internal and mechanism-related keywords.…”

Brain-Heart Axis and the Inflammatory Response: Connecting Stroke and Cardiac Dysfunction

“…A previous study based on a mouse model of transient focal cerebral ischemia reported that intestinal T lymphocytes were trafficked into the meninges of the brain, wherein they induced neuroinflammation and the release of IL-17, which further facilitated the infiltration of immune cells into the damaged brain and promoted the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines [129]. Dysbiosis associates with post-stroke systemic inflammation, mediated partly by bacterial metabolites regulating microbiota-immune crosstalk [130]. The vagus nerve innervates the gutbrain axis, with vagal signaling maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and symbiosis [131].…”

Effects of electroacupuncture on postoperative cognitive dysfunction and its underlying mechanisms: a literature review of rodent studies

“…There is a close connection between the gut microbiota and the CNS through neural, immune, endocrine, and metabolic pathways. Disturbances in the gut microbiota leads to neuroinflammation and promote microglia activation and pathological changes in brain tissue ( Huang et al, 2022 ). The gut microbiota may contribute to POCD through the gut-brain axis.…”